Joint Information Center Fire Update August 6, 2018

For a downloadble, printable version of this update, click here.

Joint Information Center Fire Update August 6, 2018

Information for Southwest Oregon Fires is available at the Joint Information Center (JIC) at 541-474-5305 7 AM – 10 PM.

Email:  swofireinfo@gmail.com; 

Blogspot:   http://swojic.blogspot.com

Fire Summary (as reported on at 9:00 a.m. August 5)
FIRE NAME	ACRES	CONTAINMENT	PERSONNEL
TAYLOR CREEK FIRE	38,804	38%	1,568
GARNER COMPLEX	8,886 (Combined total for all fires)	82%	894
SUGAR PINE	(Combined with MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP)	N/A	N/A
KLONDIKE	30,873	5%	459
NATCHEZ	10,302	35%	832
HENDRIX	1,082	70%	249
MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP	37,726 (Combined total for all fires)	18%	1,707

WEATHER

A warming trend begins today with temperatures rising and relative humidity dropping.  Temperatures will continue to rise through the week, peaking on Thursday.

SMOKE
Conditions are expected to cause little smoke transport this morning, with light winds shifting towards the NW in the PM. Smoke impacts are expected for downwind communities close to the fire perimeter, and downslope communities as down valley winds trap smoke tonight. Model predictions show potential impacts to Happy Camp, Cave Junction, and Selma.

For relief from smoke, travel to the Oregon Coast, or north into the Roseburg area.

EVACUATIONS

More info about evacuation levels and preparedness can be found at http://www.rvem.org.

Josephine County current evacuation information is available at the Josephine County Sheriff’s website at http://www.co.josephine.or.us/News.asp?SectionID=180.

Jackson County current evacuation information is available at the Jackson County Sheriff’s website at http://jacksoncountyor.org/sheriff/News.

Douglas County current evacuation information is available at the Douglas County Sheriff’s website at http://www.dcso.com/#.

Per the Natchez Fire Incident Management Team, the community of Sunstar, California has been placed in a Level 1 evacuation “Ready” status. Siskiyou County Sheriff’s Office has issued an evacuation order for two residences near the terminus of South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and an evacuation warning for all residences accessed by the South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and all residences accessed by the Grayback road north of the junction of South Fork Road (Rd 17N32) and Grayback road.

The Sugar Pine/Miles Fire - Due to increased fire activity on the west side of the Miles/Sugar Pine fire, the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is expanding the Level 3 “Go” and Level 2 “Be Set” evacuation zones.  These zones do not contain any residences.

The new Level 3 area now includes the upper portion of West Branch Elk Creek Road.  The road is already closed to public traffic at the intersection with Elk Creek Road.  A Level 2 area is now located to the west and south of the new Level 3 area.  Because no residences are affected by the new evacuation zones, no evacuation notices or Citizen Alert notifications will be issued.

Information about fire evacuation levels is also available from the Joint Information Center at 541-474-5305.

CLOSURES

GARNER COMPLEX

NONE

TAYLOR CREEK

Due to increased fire behavior and firefighting operations on the Taylor Creek Fire, Bear Camp Road is closed.

The Rogue River-Siskiyou NF Taylor Creek Fire Emergency Area Closure Order 06-10-22-18-62 closes national forest lands near the Taylor Creek Fire for public health and safety. Effective July 19, 2018 through October 31, 2018, unless sooner rescinded. Detailed information and a map of the area closure are available at https://tinyurl.com/RRSiskiyou.

There is a BLM closure order for lands and recreation areas along portions of the Rogue River. The order does not affect river operations, however access to the river is limited in the closed area. Information is available from https:/tinyurl.com/TaylorFireClosure.

The Oregon State Marine Board filed a temporary rule to close boating effective immediately on the Rogue River from Hog Creek to Galice due to the Taylor Creek Fire: https://www.oregon.gov/osmb/Pages/Rogue-River-Temporary-Closure.aspx.

NATCHEZ

A new closure order was issued August 5th, effective until the Natchez Fire is declared out. Going into or being upon National Forest System lands within the Natchez Fire Closure Area is prohibited. The Closure Area begins at the intersection of Forest Road No. 48 (Grayback Road), the Klamath National Forest boundary and the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest boundary. For details of the closure order please go to the Klamath

National Forest Website at www.fs.usda.gov/klamath.

HENDRIX

The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Hendrix Fire Area Closure for the southern portion of the Siskiyou Mountains Ranger District has been updated but a closure remains in effect. Detailed information and a map of the area closure are available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/rogue-siskiyou.

SUGAR PINE/MILES

An Emergency Road and Area Fire Closure has been issued by the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. All portions of the Forest west of Forest Roads 68 near the northern boundary and all of 6640 are closed. This area is bounded on the south by BLM and private land, to the north and west by the Umpqua National Forest and to the east by open portions of the Rogue River- Siskiyou National Forest.

SOUTH UMPQUA

The Umpqua National Forest has implemented emergency road and trail closures on the Tiller Ranger District because of the South Umpqua Complex. This closure order is a combination of roads and trails which had remained closed from last year’s fire season. With continued fire suppression operations, the closures are essential to allow for public and firefighter safety. In addition, this Forest Order includes previous closures on the Diamond Lake Ranger District and North Umpqua Ranger District to create a current and comprehensive list. More information is available at:  https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/umpqua/alerts-notices.

Links to Specific Incidents

Klondike-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5998/

Natchez-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5948/

Taylor Creek-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6058/

Garner Complex-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5935/

Hendrix-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5939/

Sugar Pine-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5966/

South Umpqua-- https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/5940/

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Klondike Fire: There will be a Fire Information meeting tonight, Monday, August 6, 2018 at 6:00 pm at the Selma Community and Education Center, 18255 Redwood Highway, Selma.

Hendrix Fire: There will be two Hendrix Fire Community Meetings next week. The first one will be held at 7 pm on Wednesday, August 8, at Ashland Middle School, 100 Walker Avenue, Ashland, Oregon. The second meeting will start at 7 pm on Friday, August, 10, at the Hendrix Fire Incident Command Post located at the intersection of Highway 238 and Hamilton Road in Ruch, Oregon. This meeting will be followed by a tour of the fire camp.

MILES/COLUMBUS/SNOW SHOE/ROUND TOP: The IMTs will be hosting a community meeting in Tiller on Wednesday, August 8 at 6:30 p.m. at the Tiller Rural Fire Protection District, 27598 Tiller Trail Hwy. There will also be a community meeting in Shady Cove on Thursday, August 9 at 6:30 p.m. at the Upper Rogue Community Center, 22465 Hwy 62.

The Red Cross has established a shelter at the Grants Pass High School for displaced residents affected by Level 3 (Go!) evacuations. Additionally, an animal evacuation center has been set up at the Josephine County Fairgrounds organized by the Friends of the Shelter and Southern Oregon Emergency Aid.

When you want to help….

In a time of crisis people naturally want to reach out and help.  We appreciate those efforts and have a few suggestions for you to consider.

Most appreciated by firefighters:

·        Thank you notes and banners

·        Donation information:  http://www.roguevalley.recovers.org

·        Donations to Wildland Firefighter Foundation:  http://www.wffoundation.org

Other ideas:

·       Join or support your local fire department or emergency organizations- they appreciate your generosity since they are the first responders in many cases.

·        Donate to local charitable organizations like the Red Cross.

·        Donate to local food banks, which sometimes get forgotten when fires impact a community.

·       Create and maintain a defensible space around your home!  Give emergency responders and yourself a safe area to defend your home in or retreat to, if necessary.

Note: Fire camps cannot accept food items due to health and federal contract regulations.  We feed our assigned fire crews three meals a day plus snacks.